Ukraine's NATO membership best, cheapest security guarantee - Lithuanian president

VILNIUS - Ukraine's NATO membership is the best, most effective and cheapest security guarantee for this country, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.

"Ultimately, Ukraine needs real security guarantees. NATO membership is undoubtedly the best, most effective, and - I am convinced - the cheapest option. It must remain on the table to strengthen our negotiating position," the president pointed out in a statement released by the presidential press service on Monday.

Nauseda is in Kyiv right now where he's attending the Ukraine Support Summit.

Presenting Lithuania’s position, the president emphasized that the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine is a crucial moment to reaffirm our commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom.

"There is no time to wait. Security in Europe depends on security of Ukraine," he said.

Nauseda urged all nations supporting Ukraine to continue supplying advanced weaponry tailored to its needs, including air defense systems and deep strike capabilities, to transfer military technologies and to jointly support defense research and development projects.

The Lithuanian leader also emphasized the need for large-scale investment in Ukraine’s defense industry to address the production gaps and to enhance the country’s self-reliance, as well as the need to buy as many weapons as possible in Ukraine for Ukraine. New training programs for the Ukrainian Armed Forces should also be developed and existing ones expanded, thereby enhancing their combat readiness, effectiveness and integration with NATO forces. Part of such training should take place in Ukraine itself.

Nauseda also stressed the need to ensure continued financial support for Ukraine’s military needs, highlighting Lithuania’s commitment to allocate at least 0.25 percent of its GDP as an example.

Regarding Ukraine’s prospects for EU membership, the Lithuanian president noted that early 2030 could be a potential target date for accession, with the first cluster of negotiations possibly opening in the coming weeks.

In addition to the leaders of Lithuania and Ukraine, the discussion was joined by the presidents of Finland and Latvia, as well as the Prime Ministers of Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, Spain, and Sweden, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

At the beginning of his visit, Nauseda lit a candle at the Memorial for the Fallen Defenders of Ukraine. Later, a meeting with the President of Ukraine is scheduled in the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) format.

EU leaders mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Kyiv as a show of solidarity amid a rift between Ukraine and US President Donald Trump.